Oyster-dredger



X R wk Em RR D W B W M N (No Model.)

No. 558,767, Patented Apr. 21,1896.

INVENTOR WITNESSES.-

Arromms. Q

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N. BOUDREAUX.

OYSTER DREDGER.

No. 558,767. Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

D ATTORNEYS.

ANDREW B GRAHAM. PHOTOLITHQWASHINGTONJS (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. N. BOUDREAUX.

OYSTER DREDGER. N0. 55 8,76 '7 PatentedApnZi, 1896 Fiyfi ATTORNEYS.

AN DRDN aGRAMM. PMOTO-U'MQWASNIN 61024.0;

rrrcm NORBERT KOUDREAUX, OF IIOIIMA, LOUISIANA.

OYSTER-DREDGER.

FEPECIF ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,767, dated April 21, 1896. Application filed November 8, 1895. Serial No 568,350. (No model.)

To all 1072,0112, it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORBERT BOUDREAUX, of IIouma, in the parish of Terrebonne and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oyster-Dredgers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in oyster-dredgers; and the object of the invention is to provide a dredger adapted for attachment to the gunwale portion of an oyster-boat, and to so construct the support for the dredger that the said support will extend outward from the gunwale a predetermined distance, and whereby the operator standing on said support may move it in an expeditious and convenient manner in direction of either the bow or the stern of the vessel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dredger of simple, durable, and economic construction, capable of being operated by one man, and one in which the tongs may be expeditiously raised and lowered and carried inboard and. dumped by a single individual.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved dredger. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dredger and platform. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the main post of the dredger. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the said post. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the table carried by the post, and Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of said table.

In carrying out the invention a platform A is pivoted by means of a pivot-bolt A or its equivalent upon the gunwale of a vessel A the point on the gunwale where said pivotal connection with the platform is made being provided with a longitudinal recess 10. The platform is adapted to support the operator or operators for the dredger and is guided in 1 its movement toward the bow or stern of the vessel by means of a rope 11, which is passed around a wheel or drum 12, journaled upon the outer end of the platform A at the top, the ends of the said rope being made fast at opposite sides of the said wheel to any support on the vessel, and the said wheel or drum is provided, preferably, with a crank-arm 13, whereby it may be turned. The rope 11 is drawn taut, and therefore by simply turning the wheel 12 the said wheel will travel along the rope 11 in thedirection desired; and it is obvious that by this construction the plat-- form may be moved laterally to a greater or less degree and will remain wherever it may be placed in the path of its movement.

A post 14 is firmly secured upon the platform A, preferably at or near its center and near one side, the post to that end being provided with a base 14, and between the ends of the post a collar 15 is formed thereon, having a horizontal pin Iii-attached thereto or iiitegral therewith. The upper portion 17 of the said post is reduced to form a shoulder 17 and a pin 17 is adapted to be passed through the reduced portion 17 of the post. The post carries a table 18, which is revolubly mounted thereon, and this table is pref erably provided with a somewhat conical form of fenestrated base 19.

The table is provided with an opening 20 in its center, adapted to receive within it the reduced portion 17 of the post 14, the table resting upon the shoulder 17 of the post, while in the bottom of the base 19 a corresponding and larger openin 21 is made, adapted to receive the larger diameter of the post above the collar 15, the base resting at its lower end 011 said collar, and the movement of the table around the post is limited by locating pins 22 on the bottom portion of the base, adapted for engagement with the horizontal pin 16 on the post.

\Vhen the pin on the post is between the two pins on the base of the table, the tongs of the dredger to be hereinafter described will be in position to enter the water, and when either of the pins 22 on the table engage with the pin 011 the post the tongs will have been brought as far as desirable over the platform either to the right or to the left.

A yoke 23 is erected on the table 18, being supported by suitable braces 23, and from the upper portion of this yoke an arm 24 is forwardly projected, being provided with a circular opening in its outer end, the said end being enlarged, and the opening extends through one side of the said arm. The arm is adapted to support, primarily, a rack 26 of predetermined length, and this rack is provided with a back 27, having a cylindrical rear vertical edge adapted to fit and slide in the circular opening 25 in the guide-arm 24, and in each side of the said back a longitudinal recess 28 is made, whereby the back may accommodate itself to the contracted opening leading from the said circular opening in the arm through its side edge, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3.

The rack is prevented from leaving the opening 25 in the arm by passing a pin 29 through the upper end of the body portion of the rack, and as a guide for the said rack, between its center and lower end, a second guide-arm 30 is projected outwardly from the table, the outward extremity of this latter arm being shaped to receive the back portion of the rack, and this latter guide is also provided with a friction-roller 31 against which the back of the rack has bearing, so as to facilitate the movement of the rack in a vertical direction.

Handles 32 and 33 of considerable length and each carrying a jaw 34 at its lower end, forming the tongs of the dredge, are pivoted together in the usual manner, and their pivotpin 35 is preferably likewise utilized to connect the tongs with the lower portion of the body of the rack 26, a block 36 being preferably made to intervene the parts, as shown in Fig. 2. The tongs proper comprise the usual teeth a, and the bar from which the teeth are projected is bent upward and inward at its ends, forming curved extremities a, and these extremities are connected with the handles of the tongs by means of wires or cords a so as to increase the capacity of the space between the jaws of the tongs for the reception of oysters or other articles dredged for.

At one side of the center of the table 18, upon its upper surface, a shaft 37 is j ournaled in suitable bearings 38, and the outer end of this shaft carries a pinion 39, which meshes with the teeth of the rack 26, and this pinion is provided with side flanges 40, extending to the edges of the teeth of the pinion at their ends, so that the pinion and rack will not become laterally separated. A hand-wheel 41 is preferably attached to the rear end of the said shaft 37, an d adjacent to the hand-wheel a ratchet-wheel 42 is secured 011 the shaft, adapted to be engaged by the locking-pawl 43, preferably pivoted upon. an extension 44 from one side of the table. In what maybe termed the central rearportion of the table a slot 45 is made, adapted to receive alever 46, and this lever is fulcrumed above the table upon a hanger or bracket 47 secured on said table, as is best shown in Fig. 2. The lever extends a predetermined distance above the table, but not as high upward as the top of the yoke 23, and the lever likewise extends downward within convenient reach from the platform A, terminating in a foot-treadle 50, and a recess or cavity 48 is made in one side of the lever, that which faces from the shaft 37, and a pawl 49 is pivoted on the table, being adapted to enter the cavity or recess 48 and hold the lever in a horizontal position after it has been so placed. The upper end of this lever is bifurcated, as is best shown in Fig. 3, and at each side of the yoke 23 elbow-levers 52 are fulcrumed in supports 53 at the junction of their members, and the outer members of the elbow -levers are preferably much longer than their inner ones, the inner members of the levers being pivotally connected with the bifurcated end of the said lever 46 by means of links 54, as is also best shown in Fig. 3.

The longer member of each of the angle or elbow levers 52 has an eye 55 formed at its outer extremity, and in each eye a frictionroller 56 is located, and the handles 32 and 33 of the tongs are passed loosely upward through these eyes 55, engaging with the friction-rollers 56. Under this construction it is obvious that the handles of the tongs have substantially a toggle connection with the foot-lever 46, the said lever being adapted to operate said handle.

A spring 51 located on the table engages with the front face of the foot-lever 46 below its pivot-point, so that as soon as the lever is released from its pawl 49 the springwill force the lower end of the lever rearward, carrying its upper end forward, and this movement of the upper portion of the lever will force the guide members of the angle-levers outward or away from one another and will open the tongs by separating its jaws.

In the operation of the device the foot-lever is released from its pawl and the jaws of the tongs will therefore be opened. The shaft 3'7 is then manipulated, through the medium of the hand-wheel, to carry the tongs downward into the water the desired depth by reason of the rack-and-pinion connection between the support for the tongs and the aforesaid shaft. WVhen the proper depth has been reached, the foot-lever is carried forward to a substantially vertical position and locked in that position by the pawl 49. This latter move ment of the foot-lever will bring the handles of the tongs together, closing its jaws. The lever remains in its locked position until the shaft 37 has been manipulated sufficiently to bring the tongs up a predetermined distance above the platform or to any desired height. The table is then revolved upon the post either to the right or to the left, bringing the jaws of the'ton gs over the platform, and when they are in position to be opened the foot-lever is released and the spring will throw the lower end of the lever outward and thereby separate the handles, through the medium of the aforesaid toggle connection, causing at the same time a separation of the jaws.

It is evident that this entire machine may be expeditiously and conveniently manipulated by a single individual, and that a con- 'siderable surface may be covered from the side of the vessel while said vessel is lying to or at anchor. The device is exceedingly simple, it is durable and economic, and its operation may be readily understood by any person of ordinary intelligence. W'hen fishing in very deep water, double gearing is preferably substituted l for the single gear illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a dredge, a platform adapted for conncction'with the side of a vessel, means for laterally shifting the said platform, a table revolubly mounted upon the said platform, tongs adapted to be raised and lowered and connected with said revoluble table, whereby they may be brought over the platform or carried to the side of the same, means for raising and lowering the said tongs, and a device for opening and closing the tongs, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a dredge, a platform adapted for pivotal connection with the side of a vessel and to extend beyond said side, means for moving the said platform laterally, apost secured upon said platform, a table revolubly m ounted on said post, a carrier having slidable connection with the table, means for operating the carrier also carried by the table, tongs pivotally connected with the said carrier, and adevice for opening and closing the handles of the tongs, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a dredge for oysters or for other uses, a post, a table revolubly mounted on the post, a rack slidably supported by the table, tongs pivotally attached to the said rack, a shaft carrying a pinion engaging with the said rack and located on the said table, and a device for opening and closing the handles of the tongs likewise carried by the said table, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a dredge, the combination, with a post and a table revolubly mounted thereon, of supports projecting from the said table, a rack held in the said supports, and tongs, the handles of which are pivotally connected with a portion of the said rack, and a shaft provided with a pinion engaging with the said rack, whereby upon turning the shaft the rack may be raised or lowered and likewise the tongs, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a dredger for oysters or for other purposes, the combination, with a support, a table revolubly mounted upon the said support, a rack, and a shaft-operated pinion supported by the said table, tongs the handles of which are connected with the said rack, a

lever carried by the table, and a toggle connection between the said lever and the handles of the said tongs to open and close the said handles, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a dredge for oysters or for other purposes, the combination, with a support, the

handles of a pair of tongs and a sliding carrier for the said handles, of a lever, and toggle-levers connected with the main lever, the toggle-levers being provided with guides to receive the handles of the said tongs, as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a dredge for oysters or for other purposes, the combination, with a post, a table revolubly mounted on the post, a carrier slidably connected with the said table, means for operating the carrier also carried by the table, and tongs pivotally connected with the said carrier, of a lever fulcrumed on the table, a lockin g device for the said lever, angle-levers fulcrumed upon thetable between the main lever and the handles of the tongs, each angle-lever being provided With a guide to receive the handle of the tongs, whereby when the main lever is carried to a vertical position the handles of the tongs will be brought to gether, being separated when the lever is car ried out of the perpendicular, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, with a pivoted platform, means for laterally shifting the platform, a post secured upon the said platform, a table revolubly connected with the said post, a carrier having slidable connection with the table, and tongs pivotally connected with the said carrier, of a. shaft in actuating connection with the carrier, a lock for the said shaft, a spring-controlled lever fulcrumed upon the table, angular levers in link connection with one end of the aforesaid main lever, each angular lever being provided with an eye at its outer end to receive the handle of the tongs, and a locking device for the said main lever, as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a dredge for oysters or for like purposes, a post, a table revolubly mounted upon the said post, a pin projected horizontally from the post, pins projected substantially vertically from the table, the said pins being adapted to limit the rotary movement of the table on the post, a carrier located on the table, having vertical sliding movement, an actuating device for the carrier, likewise carried by the table, tongs pivotally connected with the said carrier, and a shifting device located on the table, engaging with the handles of the tongs for opening and closing the same, as and for the purpose specified.

NORBERT BOUDREAUX. lVitnesses:

ISAAC DASPIT, EDWIN O. WURZLOW. 

